Can advancing mechanism



April 16, 1935. F. F. WOLF CAN ADVANCING MECHANISM Original Fi led Nov.4, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet Eda Fwd;

QM W p April 16, 1935. F. F. WOLF CAN ADVANCING MECHANISM 4 Sheets-Sheet2 Original Filed Nov. 4, 1930 April 16, 1935. F. F. WOLF CAN ADVANCINGMECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 4, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 April 16, 1935.F. F. WOLF CAN ADVANCING MECHANISM Original Filed Nov. 4, 1930 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED PATENT oFFIcE Fair F/Wblf,G'attaraugus, N. Y., assignor to Cakes & Burger 00., Inc.,Cattai'au'gus, N. Y.,

10 One object of acorporatien of New York Original application November4, 1930, Serial No. 493,293r; Divided and this application July 30;

1932, Serial No; 626,326

Q11C'1aims. (Cl. 198-218) This invention relatesto improvements in canwashing machinesoi the kind in which the cans and their covers arewashed, sterilized and dried in successive operations, this applicationbeing a division ofmy oo-pending application; Serial No 493,299, filedNovember'i, 1930,vnow Patent No. 1,917,350, issued July ll, 1933, andcoveringrthe meohanism'which is shown'therein for advancing the cansthrough the various treating zones.

the invention is to provide mechanism which is operative to push thecans by their necks; whereby the mouths of the cans may be completelyclosed in various of the zones in order to prevent the treating fluidsfrom carrying impurities into the cans.

A further object is to provide mechanism in which the can engagingelements are positively actuated to their operative and inoperativepositions, this chic ct contemplating a construction wherein themechanism is rendered inoperative when a-can is improperly placed in themachine,- thereby avoiding injury to the mechanism in such an event.

Figure l is a The invention is illustrated in theaocompany ingdrawings,in which:

side elevation of the'delivery end of a machine in which; features ofthe invention are incorporated.-

Figure 2 is a 2- 2 of Figure 1.

vertical section taken along line Figure 3 is a detail sectiontakenalong line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an;enlargedlfragrnentary view in plan of the can advancingmechanism, the can engaging elements beingshown in their retracted orinoperative position.

Figure 5 is a similar view in elevation of said mechanism with the partsin the same position.

Figure 61 is a 40 fragmentary section taken along return of the canengaging elements to their inoperative position;

Figure 8 i"s a fragmentary view, similar to Figure 4', of thecanadvancing mechanism and in which" the can their operative engagingelements are shown' in' position, the can engaging elements being shownat the oftheir forward movement.

Figure 9 isa view in elevation of the saidmechanism with the 05 tion.

parts thereof in the same posi- Figure 12 is a View similar to Figureshowing 1 v the relative positions of the parts just prior to the timethat the can advancing elements reach the limit of their forwardmovement. A

p The mechanism is illustrated as applied to a machine of the typedisclosed in my said co-pending application. It is to be understood,however, that such illustration is by way of example only as themechanism is equally applicable to other types of machines.

The machine, as illustrated, includes a suitable framework by which thevarious mechanisms are supported in co-operating relation. In accordancewith present practice the cans are advanced step-by-step through themachine while in an inverted position and during such movement areparallel rails upon which the cans are supported in an invertedposition. The cans are guided along therails ZOby pairs of upper andlower guide rails 21 and 22- respectively,; the latter being adapted toengage the necks of the pans while the former are adapted to engage thebodies of the cans. The can covers, as illustrated, are moved throughthe machine in a vertical sidewise position along an elevated guidewaywhich is provided by parallel rods 23 (Fig. 2).- The covers aresupported in and moved along said guideway by the upper runof a chain24, the latter being provided with fingers 25 which engage the necks ofthe covers andpush them toward the dischargeend of the machine. Thecovers; similarly to the cans, are subjected to the action of cleansingand drying fluids during theirpassage through the machine and at thecompletion of these operations enter a cover applying member 26 (Fig. l)by which they are lowered into the mouths of their respective cans asthe latter pass therebeneath in upright position.

The present invention is concerned withthe mechanismby which the cansare advanced stepby-step through the machine. The saidmechanism-includes a carriage 2-1 by which the can errgaging elements:28 are carried. The carriage is arranged lengthwise of the machineadjacent the canrun-way and comprises longitudinally extendingmembers29, 38 and-3 l. The member 31' (Fig.

2) is channel-shaped in cross-section and is mounted for movement in thedirection of its length in a guide 32 which is suitably secured to theframe-work of the machine. At their inner ends the elements 28 arepivotally connected between the member 3| and the member or bar 38, thefree ends of the elements resting upon the adjacent guide rail 22.Intermediate their ends the said elements are pivotally connected as at33 to the carriage member 29.

Means is provided for operating the carriage members to move theelements 28in such a manner that they push the cans step-by-step throughthe machine. To this end the carriage member 29 is connected to a block34 which'is slidably mounted upon a channel guide 35, the connectingmeans between the member and the block including a link 35 which ispivotally secured at one end to the block and at the other end to a boss31 which is carried by the member 29.

The block 34 is connected by a link 38 to the upper end of a lever 39,the lower end of the lever being mounted for pivotal movement in abearing block 48 which is suitably secured to the framework of themachine. Intermediate its ends the lever 39 carries a roller 4| whichfits in a cam groove 42 formed in a wheel 43. The latter is mounted upona shaft which is journaled at its opposite ends in suitable bearingscarried by the framework of the machine. The shaft 44 is connected to adrive shaft 45 through reducing gears 46, 4! and 48 and is driven by asuitable motor (not shown). The gear 48 is loosely mounted on the shaft44.- A driving connection, however, is normally maintained between thedrive shaft 45 and the shaft 44 by a slip clutch 49. The latter is fixedto the shaft 44 and frictionally engages an annular extension 58 formedon the gear 48. The clutch 49 is adjusted so that the frictionalengagement between it and the gear extension 58 is insufficient tomaintain the driving connection between these parts in the event thatany of the parts of the machine become jammed. Injury to such parts is,therefore, avoided.

It will thus be apparent that by virtue of the connection between thelever 39 and the carriage member 29 a reciprocatory movement is impartedto the latter by the cam wheel 43. Rearward movement of the carriagemember 29 is utilized, assuming that the elements 23 are in a positionwhere they have just reached the limit of their can advancing movement(Fig. 8), to first pivot the said elements out of the can runway andthen carry them rearwardly so that they may be operated to engage andpush forward a step the next succeeding cans. Pivotal movement of theelements is effected by holding the bar 38, and hence the carriagemember 3|, against movement during the initial movement of the carriagemember 29. For this purpose an arm 5| (Fig. 9) is pivotally connected atone end'to a vertical frame member 52, the said arm carrying a weight 53which depends from its free end. Intermediate its ends the arm carries aroller 54 which rests upon, and hence rides upon, the bar 38. The latteris formed with two arcuate depressions 55 and 56 into and out of whichthe roller 52 is adapted to ride during reciprocatory movements of thebar 38, it being noted that the roller 54 rests in the depression 56when the parts are in the position shown in Figure 8. As the carriagemember 29; therefore, is moved rearwardly, the roller 54 prevents acorresponding movement of the carriage members 38 and 3 I. Hence theelements 28 pivot between said members out of the can runway to theposition shown in Figure 4. When they reach this position a lug 51 whichis carried by the carriage member 29 engages a stop 59 (Fig. 6) which iscarried by the carriage member 3|. As the member 29, therefore,continues to move rearwardly the members 38 and 3| are moved along withit, the roller 54 being forced out of the recess 56 and riding along thebar 38 toward the recess 55. During this movement of the carriagemembers the elements which have been withdrawn out of the can runway aremoved while in this position from behind the cans they have been pushingpast the next succeeding cans in the runway. As the carriage membersreach the limit of their rearward movement, the roller 54 rides into therecess 55.

As the carriage member 29 is moved forward from this position, theroller 52 remains in the depression 55 and prevents a like movement ofthe carriage members 38 and 3|. The elements 28, therefore, are pivotedbetween the carriage members 38 and 3| into the can runway to theposition shown in Figure 8, in which position they engage the cans pastwhich they have just been moved while in the retracted position. Duringthis movement of the element 28 the carriage member 29 moves laterallyrelative to the carriage members 38 and 3| and the lug 51 approaches asecond stop 58 which is carried by the carriage member 3|.

Means is provided whereby the carriage members 38 and 3| are lockedagainst relative longitudinal movement in either direction when theelements 28 reach their fully extended position so that the latter aremaintained in such position during the continued movement of the saidmembers to advance the cans a step through the machine. To this end thecarriage member 29 carries a dog 68 which is mounted thereon for pivotalmovement by a bracket 68a. When the carriage member 29 is at the limitof its rearward movement and the elements 28 are fully retracted, thedog 68 rests upon the stop 59 (Fig. 5). As the carriage member 29 isactuated to move the elements toward their can engaging position, thedog rides along the top of the lug 59 until the elements reach suchposition. At this point the lug 59 engages the lug 58 and the head 6'!of the dog drops into the space between the two lugs (Fi 10). are,therefore, locked against relative movement and as they continue to moveforward they push the cans along the runway. It will be appreciated thatduring the forward movement of the carriage 21 the cans act against thefree ends of the elements 28 and would, unless provision were made toguard against this, pivot the elements about their connections with thecarriage member 29 to move the members 38 and 3| forward, the cansremaining stationary in the runway. The dog 68, therefore, by lockingthe carriage members prevents this.

In order to enable the return of the elements 28 to their fullyretracted position whereby they may be moved rearwardly in the machinepast the cans that they are to engage during their next forwardingmovement, means is provided for unlocking the carriage members. For thispurpose the dog 68 is provided with an upstanding portion 6| which isadapted to cooperate with a trip member 62 (Fig. 9), the latter beingsuitably supported for pivotal movement from the frame of the machine byan angle member 63. The free end of the trip member normally rests upona laterally extending member 64 which is carried The carriage membersand elements remit by a vertical leg 65 of the frame of the machinef Asthe carriage 21 approachesthe limit of its forward movement theupstanding portion'fil of the dog 65 lifts the free endof'thetrip member62 and moves behind a shoulder '66 of the said member. Hence during theinitial return movement of the carriage 21' the dog 50 is pivoted uponits support by the trip member 52 (F'i'gJI) and. the head 61 thereof iswithdrawn from between the lug 51 and stop 59. The roller 54 holds thecarriage members 36 and 31 against movement so that during the initialmovement of the member 29 the elements 28 are pivoted out of .the canrunway, the head 51 of the dog riding upon the stop 59 during suchrelativev movementbetween the carriage members.

.In order to facilitate withdrawal of the dog 7 from between the lug 51and the stop 59 the stops 58 and Stare preferablyspaced so that thereisa clearance provided when the dog 60 is in operative position. During acan advancing movement the clearance, as'shown in Figure 12 will bebetween the lug 51 and the stop 58. In other words, the head 51 of thedog is forced tightly against the stop 59. This is caused by the actionof the cans against the free ends of the elements 28, the cans tendingto pivot the elements upon the member 29 and hence tending to move themembers 30 and 3] forwardly relative thereto. As the carriage approachesthelimit of its forward movement'the member 3| engages a stop 98 (Fig.8) which is suitably supported from the framework of the machine and isarrested thereby. The parts are so designed that the member 29 is movedforward a short distance after "the member 3| has engaged the'stop 68 inthe manner described. The lug 51 and dog 69, therefore, move forwardwith the member 29 relative to the members 30 and 5 I Thus they take upthe clearance between the lug 51 and the stop 58, thereby providing aclearance between the head 61 of the dog and the stop 59 (see Fig. 10).With the parts in the position described the dog can'be readily releasedby the trip member 62 upon the initial return movement of the carriage.The carriage members 30 and 3| are held against movement in the returndirection by the roller 54 until the elements 28 are pivoted'out of thecan runway, the released dog 6|] riding during this relative movementbetween the carriage member upon the step 59 in the manner described. Asthe elements reach their fully retracted position the lug 51 engages thestop 59 and during further movement of the member 29 the members 30 and3! are carried with it,'the roller 54 being forced out of the depression56 and movedalong the member 30 toward the depression 55. As thecarriage reaches the limit of its rearward movement the roller entersthe depressions whereby the parts are conditioned for the nextforwarding movement of the elements. i 4 From the foregoing it will beapparent that the mechanism has the advantage thatv the'can engagingelements are positively actuated, thereby insuring their movement at alltimes in the manner desired. The locking means is operative only afterthe elements have reached their fully extended position. Hence if anattendant fails to place a can at the proper position in the can runway,for example, not far enough in the runway and an element engages thejcanat the side instead of at the rear the element is pivotedout of therunway by the can, "the latter remaining stationary. Injury to the partsof the mechanism is, therefore, avoided.

It will be noted that the elements 28 in pushing the cans in the mannerdescribed engage the necks of the latter above the plane of theirmouths. This is desirable as it enables the mouths of the cans to beclosed at certain of the stations to prevent the cleaning fluids fromcarrying foreign-substances into the cans. Thus, as illustrated, thecans in their travel along the runway pass from the rails 20 upon aplate 69 which is supported by the rails, the upper surface of the platebeing flush with the upper surfaces of the rails. The plate 69 is formedwith an opening 10 through which steam, for example, may be introducedinto the cans from a nozzle H (Fig. 2). The plate seals the mouths ofthe cans during the introduction of the steam spray, whereby a high- 1yeffective sterilizing action is obtained with a minimum quantity ofsteam and without the introduction of foreign matter. As the canengaging element operates in a plane over the mouths of the cans, themechanism has the advantage that it enables sealing of the cans in themanner described during the treating operations. Having fully describedmy invention, I claim:

1. In a can washing machine, the combination of a support and means formoving a can along said support, said means comprising a can engagingelement, a carriage member to which said element is pivotally connected,a second carriage member to which said element is also pivotallyconnected, actuating mechanism connected to said second carriage memberfor moving it forward a determined distance, means for holding saidfirst mentioned carriage member against movement during the initialmovement of said second carriage member, whereby said element is movedto a can engaging position and means for locking the said carriagemembers against rela tive movement after said element has reached suchposition, said holding means being operative to release said firstmentioned member when said element has been moved toits can engagingposition, whereby during the remainder of the forward movement of saidsecond carriage member said actuating mechanism also moves said firstmentioned carriage member, 'said element remaining in its can engagingposition.

2. In a can washing machine, the combination of a support and means formoving a can along said support, said means comprising a can engagingelement, a carriage member to which said element is pivotally connected,a second carriage member to which said element is also pivotallyconnected, actuating mechanism connected to..

said second carriage member for moving it forward a determined distance,means for holding said first mentioned carriage member against movementduring the initial movement of said second carriage member whereby tomove said element to a can engaging position, means for locking saidcarriage members against relative movement when said element has reachedsuch position thereby to hold said element against angular movementduring the remainder of the forward movement of said second carriagemember, whereby said actuating mechanism also moves said first mentionedcarriage member and effects the release of said holding means, means forreturning said second carriage member to its original position, meansfor unlocking said carriage members during the initial return movementof said second carriage member and means for holding said firstmentioned carriage member against movement during the initial returnmovement of saidsecond carriage member whereby said element is moved outof its can engaging position.

3. In a can washing machine, the combination of a support and means formoving a can along said support, said means comprising a can engagingelement, a carriage member to which said element is pivotally connected,a second carriage member to which said element is also pivotallyconnected, actuating mechanism connected to said second carriage memberfor moving it forward a determined distance, means for holding saidfirst mentioned carriage member against movement during the initialmovement of said second carriage member thereby to move said element toa can engaging position, a locking member carried by one of said membersand cooperating with locking means carried by the other said member tolock said members against relative movement when the said elementreaches such position, said holding means being releasable, whereby saidactuating mechanism also moves the said first mentioned carriage memberduring the remainder of the forward movement of the said second carriagemember and means or releasing said locking member so that the saidelement may be moved out of its can engaging position during the initialpart of the return movement of said second carriage member.

4. In a can washing machine, the combination of a support and means formoving a can along said support, said means comprising a can engagingelement, a carriage member to which said element is pivotally connected,a second carriage member to which said element is also pivotallyconnected, actuating mechanism connected to said second carriage memberfor moving it forward a determined distance, means for holding saidfirst mentioned carriage member against movement during the initialmovement of said second carriage member thereby to move said element toa can engaging position, a dog carried by one of said members andco-operating with the other of said members to lock said members againstrelative movement when the said element reaches such position, wherebysaid actuating mechanism also moves the said first mentioned carriagemember during the remainder of the forward movement of the said secondcarriage member, said element remaining in its can engaging position,means for moving said second carriage member rearwardly to return saidelement to its original position and means operative during the initialreturn movement of said second carriage member to trip said dog topermit rela- 'tive movement between the said carriage members whereby tomove said element out of its can engaging position.

5. In a can washing machine, the combination of a support and means formoving a can along said support, said means comprising a can engagingelement, a carriage member to which said element is pivotally connected,a second carriage member to which said element is also pivotallyconnected, means for moving said second carriage member a determineddistance, means for holding said first mentioned carriage member againstmovement during the initial movement of said second carriage memberthereby to move said element to a can engaging position, a pair ofspaced stops carried by said first mentioned carriage member, aco-operating lug carried by said second carriage member and movable intoengagement with one of said stops as the said element reaches its canengaging position and means carried by said second carriage member forcooperating with the other of said stops to lock said members againstrelative movement, whereby said element is locked in its can engagingposition during the remainder of the forward movement of said members.

6. In a can washing machine, the combination of a support and means formoving a can along said support, said means comprising a can engagingelement, a carriage member to which said element is pivotally connected,a second carriage member to which said element is also pivotallyconnected, means for moving said second carriage member forward adetermined distance, means for holding said first mentioned carriagemember against movement during the initial movement of said secondcarriage member thereby to move said element to a can engaging position,a pair of spaced stops carried by said first mentioned carriage member,a lug carried by said second carriage member and adapted to engage oneof said stops as the said element reaches the can engaging position, adog carried by said second carriage member and adapted as the saidelement reaches its can engaging position to drop between said lug andthe other of said stops whereby the said carriage members are lockedagainst relative movement during the continued movement of said secondcarriage member, means for returning said second carriage member to itsoriginal position and means for rendering said locking dog inoperativeduring the initial part of the return movement of said second carriagemember so that said element may be moved out of its can engagingposition.

7. In a can washing machine, the combination of a support and means formoving a can along said support, said means comprising a can engagingelement, a carriage member to which said element is pivotally connected,a second carriage member to which said element is also pivotallyconnected, means for reciprocating said second carriage member, meansfor holding said first mentioned carriage member against movement duringthe initial part of the movement of said second carriage member ineither direction, thereby to pivot said element into and out of its canengaging position, a pair of stops carried by one of said carriagemembers and a lug carried by the other of said carriage members andco-operating with said stops to limit the relative movement of saidcarriage members to an extent adequate to move said element in themanner described.

8. In a can washing machine, the combination of a support and means formoving a can along said support, said means comprising a can ongagingelement, a carriage member to which said element is pivotally connected,a second carriage member to which said element is also pivotallyconnected, means for reciprocating said second carriage member, meansfor holding said first mentioned carriage member against movement duringthe initial part of the movement of said second carriage member ineither direction, thereby to pivot said element into and out of its canengaging position, a pair of stops carried by one of said carriagemembers, a lug carried by the other of said carriage members andco-operating with said stops to limit the relative movement of saidcarriage members to an extent adequate to move said element in themanner described and a dog carried by one of said carriage mem bers andco-operating with one of said stops to lock said carriage membersagainst relative movement when said element reaches its can engagingposition.

9. In a can washing machine, the combination of a support and means formoving a can along said support, said means comprising a can engagingelement, a carriage member to which said element is pivotally connected,a second carriage member to which said element is also pivotallyconnected, means for moving said second carriage member forward adetermined distance and means for holding said first mentioned carriagemember against movement duringrthe initial movement only of said secondcarriage member, whereby to move said element into can engaging positionduring said initial movement of said second carriage member, said lastnamed means including a bar which is carried by one of said carriagemembers, said bar being formed with a recess and a roller which iscarried from the framework of the machine and which is adapted to enterand leave said recess during the reciprocating movement of said carriagemembers.

10. In a can washing machina'the combination of a support, means formoving a can along said support, said means including a can engagingelement, a carriage member to which said element is pivotally connected,a second carriage member to which said element is also pivotallyconnected, means for moving said second carriage member forward adetermined distance, a bar which is carried by said first mentionedcarriage member, said bar being formed with a recess, a roller, an armwhich carries said roller, said arm being pivotally connected to theframework of the machine and supporting said roller so that it rests insaid recess during the initial part of the forward movement of saidsecond carriage member to hold said'first mentioned carriage memberagainst movement,

whereby to move said element to can engaging position, said arm movingto permit said roller to leave said recess during the remainder of theforward movement of said second carriage member so as to permit saidcarriage members to move together as a unit while said element is in itscan engaging position.

11. In a can Washing machine, the combination of a support, means formoving a can along said support, said means comprising a can engagingelement, a carriage member to which said ele-- ment is pivotallyconnected, a second carriage member to which said element is alsopivotally connected, means for moving said second carriage memberforward a determined distance, a bar carried by said first mentionedcarriage member, said bar being formed with a recess, a roller which iscarried by the framework of the machine, said roller resting in saidrecess and being adapted to hold said first mentioned carriage memberagainst movement during the initial part of the movement of said secondcarriage member, whereby to move said element 'into can engagingposition, said roller moving out of said recess and said first carriagemember moving with said second carriage member during the remainder ofthe forward movement of the latter, means for moving said secondcarriage member rearwardly to return said element to its originalposition and means for holding said first carriage member stationaryduring the initial part of the return movement of said second carriagemember so as to move said element out of the path of said can, saidmeans including said roller and a second recess which is formed in saidbar.

FRANK F. WOLF.

